The University of Missouri-St. Louis baseball team begins its 2013 season this Sunday with a pair of games at the Dunn Hospitality Tournament, hosted by Southern Indiana. The Tritons face Ashland at 11:30 a.m. in the official season opener before taking on the host Screaming Eagles at 3 p.m.
Under the direction of 28
th-year head coach
Jim Brady, UMSL is coming off its best season since 2004. The Tritons won 24 of their final 31 games last year to finish with a 32-21 record. UMSL also posted a 20-14 mark in the Great Lakes Valley Conference, earning its first GLVC Tournament berth since 2004 and came up one win shy of an appearance in the championship game.
Brady returns more than a handful of players from last year's squad as all eight starting position players, along with four pitchers – including two starters and two relievers – are back. That group, along with several new faces that are sure to make an immediate impact, should help UMSL build on the success of last year's late season run.
Headlining the group of returning starters is senior utility
Charlie Mohr, who earned NCBWA Second Team All-Midwest Region, Daktronics, Inc., First Team All-Midwest Region and Second Team All-GLVC honors after batting .340 and recording 45 RBIs and 16 doubles. Mohr, who saw time at first base, second base and designated hitter last season, tallied 19 multi-hit games, including six contests of three or more hits, and finished with 13 multi-RBI games.
Senior outfielder
John Pilackas earned First Team All-GLVC honors after batting .293 and posting a slugging percentage of .613. He tallied 10 home runs, which tied the fourth best single season number in program history, and added 14 doubles and 32 RBIs.
Senior third baseman
Trevor Nathanson and senior designated hitter
Taylor Holman were both Second Team All-GLVC selections last season. Nathanson batted .305 with 15 doubles, six home runs and 39 RBIs, while Holman posted a .317 batting average.
Senior centerfielder
Lucas Matecki earned All-ABCA Midwest Region Gold Glove honors for his near perfect defensive play in the outfield after committing just one error, while starting all 52 games. Offensively, he batted .288 and led the team in stolen bases with 18 and in runs scored with 46.
Other returning starters include senior outfielder
Nolan Craig, junior shortstop
Justin Lois and junior catcher
Paul Richmond.
Craig batted .318 and recorded 20 RBIs, 30 runs and 11 stolen bases, while Lois batted .267 and started 48 of 51 games played with. Richmond started 25 of 30 games played in and posted a batting average of .231.
Senior outfielder
Drew Standefer also returns after starting 22 of 37 games played in last season.
Sophomore
Chris True started seven games on the mound, posting a 2-1 record with a 2.89 ERA. He struck out 23 batters in 43.2 innings, while junior
Zach Standefer made eight appearances on the mound, starting three games and finishing with a 2-2 record, while posting a 3.47 ERA.
Senior
Kyle Renaud made 14 appearances in relief, recording a 4-2 record, while senior
Brett Wolf also made 14 appearances and earned four starts, finishing with a 2-2 record.
Among the newcomers expected to play a key role are senior pitcher
Andy Flett, a transfer from the University of Louisville; junior pitchers
Jake Sinovich, a transfer from Southwestern Illinois Community College,
Nolan Clayton, a transfer from Lincoln Trails Community College and
Jonathan Rosario, a transfer from Joliet Community College; junior first baseman
Michael Budka, a transfer from Blackhawk Community College; junior second baseman
Tyler Bunge, a transfer from Mineral Area Community College; and junior catcher
Cody Garlington, also a transfer from Mineral Area Community College.
Following this weekend's action, the Tritons travel to Florida March 7-10 for the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational. UMSL begins Great Lakes Valley Conference action with a four-game series at Lewis March 16-17. The home opener is scheduled for March 23-24 when the Tritons entertain Saint Joseph's in a four-game series.
